Edge trim for pieces of furniture

Abstract

The invention relates to an edge trim for pieces of furniture, comprising a meltable film. In order to improve a generic edge trim such that the same is more versatile and can especially be mounted on a wider selection of surfaces, the molecular structure of the meltable film contains both polar and non-polar parts.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A piece of furniture having a rough edge connected to a composite edge trim, the rough edge comprising a wood-based material, wherein the composite edge trim comprises a meltable film and a structural film connected to the meltable film, wherein the meltable film contains both polar and non-polar parts in the molecular structure and is a grafted copolymer, the edge trim connected at least in sections in an adhesive and interlocking bond that adheres to and interlocks with the said rough edge of the piece of furniture. 
     
     
       2. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film is produced from a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
       3. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film comprises a thermoplastic polymer, selected from the group of thermoplastic polymers consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       4. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film is based on the material from which the structural film is made. 
     
     
       5. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film and the meltable film are connected in an adhesive bond. 
     
     
       6. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film and the meltable film are coextruded. 
     
     
       7. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the meltable film has a lower melting point than the material of the structural film. 
     
     
       8. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the meltable film is a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene. 
     
     
       9. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film contains energy absorbing additives. 
     
     
       10. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film of the edge trim defines an underside or abutting side of the edge trim. 
     
     
       11. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film forms the top film of the edge trim, which defines a top side or visible side of the edge trim. 
     
     
       12. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the top side of the edge trim comprises a decor. 
     
     
       13. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film forms the bottom film of the edge trim, which defines a bottom side or installation side of the edge trim. 
     
     
       14. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film comprises a thickness of 0.8 to 5.0 mm. 
     
     
       15. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film comprises a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
       16. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom side of the edge trim is connected with the full surface with the edge of the piece of furniture in a material bonding manner. 
     
     
       17. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the piece of furniture is selected from the group of materials consisting of wood materials, wood substitutes, metals, glasses, plastics, stones, the ceramics, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       18. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the structural film is selected from the group of materials consisting of wood materials, wood substitutes, metals, glasses, plastics, stones, ceramics, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       19. A method of fabricating the piece of furniture of  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) energizing the meltable film of the edge trim so as to at least partially melt the film, which comprises a grafted copolymer; 
 (b) pressing the meltable film in an at least partial molten state against a rough edge of the piece of furniture; 
 (c) allowing the at least partially melted meltable film to flow into interstices of the rough edge; and 
 (d) allowing the meltable film to solidify, and so adhere to and interlock with the rough edge in a material bonding manner. 
 
     
     
       20. The piece of furniture according to  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group of thermoplastic polymers consisting of polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       21. The piece of furniture according to  claim 9 , wherein the energy absorbing additives are selected from the group consisting of light- and radiation-absorbing additives. 
     
     
       22. The piece of furniture according to  claim 9  wherein the energy absorbing additive is a laser pigment. 
     
     
       23. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural film comprises a thickness of 1.0 to 3.0 mm. 
     
     
       24. The piece of furniture according to  claim 1 , wherein the meltable film comprises a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm.